Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-17
need the senator's testimony. With

1 L
ace CT justice.
I had never seen criminal trial in a
Mexican court, and everything was new
| to me.
The alcalde presided with great dignity.
He was assisted by prosecuting officer,
| and several advocates, as they call their
| lawyers, were also on hand. The court
room was filled with a crowd of eager
| spectators, all talking, swearing and
shaking their fists at the prisoner. The
| robber, Francisco, was the most uncOn-
cerned looking man in the crowd. Sur
rounded by alguazils, he was not hand
cuffed, and when he saw nae he smiled and
made me polite bow.
The proceedings dragged all through
the weary day.
| My limited knowledge of the language
made it impossible for me to follow
everything that was said, but I under
stood that an effort was being made to
prove an alibi.
Three men, with rather honest faces,
swore that at o'clock on the previous
evening they had imbibed pulque with
Francisco at a little village twenty miles
west of San Pablo. If they told the truth
of course my robber could not have been
Francisco.
1t irritated me to see SO much impor-
tance attached to the alibi and to my
cause, because l had been led to believe
that the prisoner would be held anyhow,
as he was wanted for other crimes, and a
big reward had been offered for him.
was told, however, that in Yucatan pris-
| oner, when he demands a trial, must be
tried or released inside of twelve hours.
| In order to hold him, therefore, the
| San Pablo authorities had to make the
most of my evidence.
The alibi business worried the old al
calde not little. The three witnesses
who swore 20 meeting Francisco on 4he
| afternoon before were reputable men. On
| the other hand, / was stranger and an
American. Several times during the day
1 was recalled to the stand and examined
and cross examined. The utmost cour-
tesy characterized the examination, but
it had a latitude that would not have been
permitted in an American court. FIRE.
quently spectator would interrupt with
question or make suggestion to the
ADELAIDE. Once Francisco remarked that
he was tired and would take it as a favor
if the court would hurry up.
Toward the close of the day I saw a
man on the outskirts of the spectators
tention. He was the very image of Fran
cisco, the prisoner.
1 changed my position so as to get a
better view. The resemblance was won
derfully striking. The man was just
Francisco's age, height, size and complex
ion. His sombrero shaded his right tenn
pie and prevented me from seeing wheth-
er it bore the peculiar scar which disfg-
ured the robber. His costume was the
same as Francisco's, but, as nearly every
| body wore homespun of the same color
| and pattern, this did not excite my sur
prise.
| eff he has the SCAR" [ muttered, she
could pass anywhere for Francisco. It
would be impossible to tell them apart"
Naturally / began to understand the
alibi. The men who swore that they saw
| the highwayman twenty miles away from
the scene of his crimime at the very mo-
ment he was tying my hands might hon
estly be mistaken. They had seen this
mysterious stranger. But they had sworn
to the scar. Gould it be possible that the
strangers face bore such mark?
[ determined to edge my way to him
in the crowd and accidently knock off his
sOmbrero in order to look for the fiery
crescent.
When I reached that side of the build
ing the man was gone. 1 made every
effort to find him, but finally gave it up
He had either left the room or shifted
his position, keeping other persons be-
tween US SO as to screen him from my
| view.
AS it was growing dark four tallow can
dies were Zig hted, but the gloomy stone
walls made the room look almost as dark
rs ever.
was wondering what would be the
outcome of the case, when the lights were
suddenly blown out.
''Keep in your places!' shouted an algu-
zil. "Order in tke palace of of justice"
The candles we're relighted, and thsn
was beheld such a scene as has rarely ever
been beheld in a court room or anywh ere
else.
In front of the alcalde's bench stood
two scar-faced men as much alike as two
brown peas.
"Merciful saints" calculated an algua-
zil. "Do I see double, or are there two
Franciscos?"
''It is the work of the devil,'' suggested
pious old man as he crossed him.
self.
My friend, the old ADELAIDE, put on his
men.
'Francisco!' he called.
Each of the two men gave jerk of his
head and answered to his name.
'sLet the American senior take the
stand" ordered the adelaide.
In response to the questions put to mo
L admitted that could not point out the
real Francisco.
Three witnesses called to establish the
alibi were recalled. They shared my be-
wilderment, and could throw no light up
on the case.
The alclade scratched his head. Then
no touched one Of the doubles with his
care.
"You now," he said. ''what is your
name?'
"Francisco." WIS the reply.
"Your residence and occupation?"
81 have none, I am travelling about"
He then turned to the other man.
"What is your name?"
"Francisco.'
"Your residence and occupations"
81 have none, I am travelling about"
The same answers delivered in the